# I'd like to change my last name. Suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938 "2006-03-26T05:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ms.Spunkmuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ms.Spunkmuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Spunkmuffin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/21 "2006-04-09T16:12:06Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] Art Vandelay [/QUOTE] Yeah, or Buck Naked… ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/22 "2006-04-09T17:58:53Z")
Wilberforce Badaracco DeForest Wilkowitz Barnstable Leutenberger Streckfus Howe Metrolini Russell Havorsen Kennelly Stolle Knipe ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/23 "2006-04-09T18:30:19Z")
Look through a phonebook or some kind of directory with a lot of last names in it. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/24 "2006-04-09T18:54:09Z")
When I married a hundred years ago, I took my husband’s name. When we divorced, he married my ex-best friend, and she and I then shared his last name. That wasn’t working for me. I didn’t want to change it back to my maiden name, as I was adopted, and I never cared much for the name, anyway. But what to change it to? I found bio-mom shortly after my divorce, and she told me my bio-dad’s last name. So, I killed two birds with one stone by changing my last name to his. First, it represented my heritage, and second, it likely would make it easier to find him if I had the same last name. And, in fact, I did find him. So my advice is to pick a name that means something to you. Perhaps the name of a relative you adore(d) or the name of a person you greatly admire. A name of something important to you or an attribute you admire or aspire to, such as Strong, Joy, Faith, Brave, etc. And pick a name you won’t tire of spelling for people. My mother’s last name is that of a color, and you’d be **amazed** at how often she has to spell it outloud for people. And don’t forget to consider your initials. You wouldn’t want to be OLD, for example, or FAT, or … well, you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/25 "2006-04-09T19:15:11Z")
I recommend “Annette Lynn Thunder.” ---
**Author:** ![hop\_along](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f08c70/32.png) [@hop\_along](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hop_along)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/26 "2006-04-09T20:57:41Z")
Why not change your last name to Lady then when you get Airline tickets or any other documents where the Surname comes first you will become Lady Annette Lynn and will no doubt get many upgrades, Dinner reservations, etc etc ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/27 "2006-04-09T22:46:42Z")
Snicket. Or maybe Aesalon, or Pollux, or Wagtail… anyway I’d use one of the more obscure names from the Harry Potter series. Rowling does great things for monikers 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/28 "2006-04-09T23:59:50Z")
“Skywalker.” Annette Lynn Skywalker. It’s so…_original_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/29 "2006-04-10T00:37:55Z")
Thugrate? ---
**Author:** ![Trafalgar\_Laura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trafalgar_laura/32/2907_2.png) [@Trafalgar\_Laura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trafalgar_Laura)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/30 "2006-04-10T00:43:36Z")
You should consider what your initials will look like too. For example, if you chose the last name Earl, your initials would be ALE. That’s kind of nice. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/31 "2006-04-10T01:32:56Z")
Capone. Then you could sign your name as A.L. Capone. How about Kingfisher. I’d love my name to be Kingfisher. In my wannabe novel that I’ll probably never get around to actually writing, the hero’s name is Martin J. Kingfisher. How about if you tell us your actual last name and we can suggest an Americanized version like Tomaczewski -\> Thomas suggested above. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/32 "2006-04-10T02:20:40Z")
Allen. If people think you’re Ginger Lynn’s sister, you shouldn’t have any problem getting dates. It might open up the whole Moslem market too, though some of the stricter types might feel a bit threatened (literally) if they went out with Ala. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/33 "2006-04-10T03:01:55Z")
Wow, I should have subscribed to my own thread, huh? I guess I could have given a little more information about why I’m changing my name. I have had enough of my family and it’s time for a “divorce.” I’ve been thinking about it for the last decade, and I’ve decided that it’s long past time. I don’t want to be associated with them anymore, so while there are a few serviceable names in the family tree, I don’t want to use any of them. Yes, I’m finished with both sides of the family. I did adore my great-grandmother, but her maiden name is rather unfortunate and her first name isn’t much better. My last name is supposedly Scottish (but probably Irish) and starts McC, but no one seems to be able to either spell it or pronounce it correctly. I do like the very creative suggestions, especially Hitler and Capone. And the porn names were good, too. I have cousins with names like Misty Dawn that would match up quite nicely with those last names. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/34 "2006-04-10T16:17:21Z")
Gayn Cortain Fischer - Mann Witherhole Forb - Uterfly ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/35 "2006-04-10T16:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Large Marge] When I married a hundred years ago, I took my husband’s name. When we divorced, he married my ex-best friend, and she and I then shared his last name. That wasn’t working for me. [/QUOTE] Heh. My husband’s ex is my best friend. She kept his name and I kept my maiden name. You have to maintain a crib sheet to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/36 "2006-04-10T19:16:54Z")
My last name is well respected where I live. I have tons of roads, etc. named after me, it’s not really me, but it commands respect when I say (not like I’d post my real last name here), “Smith, like Smith Bridge Road”. That way, everyone knows how to spell it. My husband and I are dual income, no kids, so we’ve joked that we may change both our last names to something in the future like Kennedy or Trump, so when people say “Trump?”, we say “Yeah, that Trump.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/37 "2006-04-11T05:22:57Z")
Could you pick up something from your occupation, or maybe a hobby or other interest? I know it’s a little weird to think of things like “programmer” or “receptionist” or something like that, but maybe there’s something you can stretch from. “Singer” or “Taylor” or the like. After all, that’s where a lot of surnames come from in the first place. Of course, you could always just throw some letters in the air and see what comes down. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/38 "2006-04-11T05:47:06Z")
For the details about how to implement the name change, [read this.](http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/BD552D1E-BFCE-46B2-AF3629FAA3AEBACA/catID/211754E8-4167-4E64-9EABA23C9510DE4F/118/121/ART/) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/39 "2006-04-11T06:05:55Z")
Power, Max Power. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938/40 "2006-04-11T06:35:04Z")
Just make sure you find out what the name means _first_! I have nothing against my family so I’m kind of stuck with my name. It means “a lump of fat or an oafish man” ☹ Damn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-change-my-last-name-suggestions/349938.md?page=3)